Bunnell city manager staying put for now

Friday

Mar 22, 2013 at 12:01 AMMar 22, 2013 at 5:34 PM

Armando Martinez still has a 200-mile round trip commute and Bunnell still has a city manager. Martinez was a finalist for the city manager job in the Brevard County community of Satellite Beach, but was passed over Thursday night in favor of Titusville planning and growth management director Courtney Barker.

AARON LONDONSTAFF WRITER

Armando Martinez still has a 200-mile round-trip commute and Bunnell still has a city manager. Martinez was a finalist for the city manager job in the Brevard County community of Satellite Beach, but was passed over Thursday night in favor of Titusville planning and growth management director Courtney Barker. That means he will have to continue the daily drive from his home in Palm Bay to his office in the Flagler County Government Services Building — for now.“I'm glad,” said Bunnell Vice Mayor Jenny Crain-Brady. “I want Armando for as long as he'll stay.”Crain-Brady said she understands Martinez's desire to work closer to his family in Brevard County.“I don't fault him for trying to find employment closer to his family,” she said. “My husband works an hour away and that is a strain on our family so I get that.”For his part, Martinez said while he is disappointed he did not get the Satellite Beach post, he has no complaints about his job in Bunnell.“I'm in a unique position that whatever happens, at the end of the day, I'm a happy camper,” he said. “I have a great job, great bosses, great employees and I love where I'm working. It's a win-win.” Barker is a 1991 graduate of Satellite High School. According to her resume, she worked as a planning intern in the New Smyrna Beach planning department from June to August 1999.Before the Satellite Beach decision was announced Thursday night, Martinez said he has “made no secret” of his desire to find a job closer to his Palm Bay home.“Whenever a position comes up in that immediate area I'm going to look at it,” he said. In 2011 Martinez was a finalist for the police chief's job in Melbourne. Reflecting on the outcome Friday morning, Martinez said he was honored to have been a finalist for the Satellite Beach job. “The truth is I'm not unhappy,” he said. “I'm actually pleased to have been able to participate and honored to be considered and humbled to have scored so high. I'm glad I went through the process.” Martinez was one of four finalists for the Satellite Beach post, out of 126 applicants. The city's selection of Barker brings her back to her hometown. In an interview with Florida Today, Barker said the Satellite Beach post was “definitely my dream job” and “a perfect fit.”